Fighting for its right to identity,the transgenders community in the state has demanded a separate welfare board. Transgenders rights activist Lakshmi Tripathi said the demand would be placed before Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan at a convention on October 3. The state government,which earlier took welfare measures in its new women policy,decided to partner Tripathis outfit,Astitva,in organising the convention. Women and Child Development Minister Varsha Gaikwad said it was part of her departments initiative to check social discrimination faced by the community. The United Nations Development Programme has also decided to fund the event. Tripathi said,Chavan will be the first CM of the state to participate in such a convention. She was,however quick to add that they still had a long way to go. A case of alleged discrimination came to light on Wednesday. Gauri Sawant,president,Sakhi-Char Chowghi Trust,which fights for transgenders rights,alleged that a community individual,who had been admitted to Sir King Edward Memorial Hospital in Parel,had not been receiving proper treatment. The patient (name withheld),a Malad resident,was admitted to the hospital on September 23. She was diagnosed with obstructive jaundice along with a biliary tract disorder. Sawant alleged that one of the resident doctors (name withheld) ordered the patient to go home after realising that she was HIV positive. On Wednesday,after the news of the alleged discrimination spread,transgender activists gathered outside the hospital to show solidarity. Sawant said she had complained to the hospitals dean and raised the issue with Gaikwad. She added that the patient also worked as a counselor. Tripathi said doctors in public and private hospitals needed to be sensitised. KEM hospital dean Dr Shubhangi Parkar said she intervened as soon as she learnt about the incident. Other patients are usually hesitant near such a person. We cannot blame the doctors because this is a rare situation and even they dont know how to handle it, Parkar said. She added that she asked the hospitals senior assistant medical officer,Dr Pravin Bangar,to personally look into the matter. She confirmed that the patient was later admitted to the hospital and would be treated without being discriminated against. mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
